Four strategic railway infrastructure projects have been greenlit for Madhya Pradesh under the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti Master Plan, signalling a decisive push to improve multi-modal connectivity and drive inclusive economic growth across the region.
The combined outlay for these projects stands at ₹24,208 crore, covering a total length of 565 km. The projects, announced by central railway authorities via a virtual briefing, are designed to enhance the state’s freight corridors, decongest passenger routes, and improve inter-state linkages—all while aligning with India’s broader goals of creating sustainable, carbon-neutral transportation networks. The most significant among the approved ventures is the proposed Manmad–Indore rail line, spanning 309 km at a projected cost of ₹18,036 crore. This new corridor will serve as a critical lifeline between Indore, Dhar, Khargone and Barwani districts in Madhya Pradesh and the industrial belts of Nashik and Dhule in Maharashtra. The link is expected to spur regional development and enable seamless mobility for both goods and people across central India. Officials stated that the corridor will play a key role in reducing travel time, lowering logistics costs, and improving access to remote locations while promoting more equitable urban expansion.
In a move to enhance freight transportation capacity, the Bhusaval–Khandwa section is set to be upgraded with third and fourth rail lines across a 131 km stretch, at an estimated investment of ₹3,514 crore. This dual-line expansion is poised to reduce congestion, improve rail efficiency, and ensure uninterrupted freight flows through one of India’s busiest logistics routes. Eastern Madhya Pradesh will also benefit from the sanctioning of the 84 km Prayagraj (Iradatganj)–Manikpur third rail line, backed by ₹1,640 crore in funding. Once completed, the corridor will significantly bolster connectivity for the Rewa region, linking it directly with key destinations in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh including Chitrakoot and Prayagraj. The development is expected to improve passenger convenience, increase regional integration, and support cross-border trade and travel.
Another major infrastructure intervention is the Ratlam–Nagda rail line augmentation, which will see third and fourth lines built along a 41 km route with a budget of ₹1,018 crore. This line is considered a critical junction in Madhya Pradesh’s rail network as it connects traffic heading in all four directions—north, south, east and west. The project is aimed at reducing the line’s current utilisation rate of 116% to a more sustainable 65%, significantly enhancing network fluidity and service reliability. Six stations along the Ratlam–Nagda route—Ratlam Junction, Bangrod, Rankheda, Khachrod, Beravanya and Nagda Junction—will undergo a complete infrastructure revamp. These station upgrades will include the construction of 70 foot overbridges, five major bridges, three railway overbridges, and 15 underpasses, according to project officials. Safety and speed are also on the agenda, with the integration of advanced signalling systems and “Kavach” collision-avoidance technology to support train speeds of up to 160 km/h.
In tandem with these infrastructure upgrades, the introduction of three new trains is set to redefine long-distance rail travel for Madhya Pradesh’s residents. The newly launched Rewa–Pune Express establishes a direct rail link from Rewa to Pune via Jabalpur, opening up better access to Maharashtra’s industrial and educational hubs from the Vindhya region. Meanwhile, the Jabalpur–Raipur Express via Nainpur and Gondia aims to enhance eastward connectivity from the Mahakaushal region to Chhattisgarh, offering faster and more comfortable travel. A third addition, the Gwalior–KSR Bengaluru City Express via Guna and Bhopal, introduces a direct corridor to southern India—fulfilling a long-standing demand for a direct service to Bengaluru from Madhya Pradesh.
Experts have emphasised the broader economic impact of these developments, highlighting how the new corridors and connectivity routes will unlock access to western ports like Kandla, Mundra, Pipavav, Hazira and Dahej. This, in turn, is expected to benefit both the state’s industrial ecosystem and the agricultural supply chain, enhancing export potential and attracting new investments. Sustainability remains a key tenet of the projects. The inclusion of energy-efficient signalling systems, expansion of rail freight (a low-carbon mode of transport), and better multimodal linkages are consistent with India’s decarbonisation targets and the long-term vision for climate-resilient infrastructure.
Officials involved in project execution reiterated that while capital-intensive, the Gatishakti initiatives would ultimately lead to high social and economic returns. They also noted that all works will be carried out with minimal environmental disruption, in keeping with sustainable development goals and zero-net-carbon urbanisation targets. Though welcomed widely by transport planners and the business community, some voices within local civic bodies and passenger rights groups have called for greater stakeholder engagement during implementation, particularly to ensure inclusive planning and seamless rehabilitation where land acquisition is involved.
Nonetheless, these new railway projects mark a pivotal shift in Madhya Pradesh’s infrastructure narrative, reaffirming the Centre’s focus on regional equity and multimodal integration. The success of these ventures could serve as a replicable model for balanced infrastructure growth in other landlocked Indian states.
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